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 Kismet features the creative talents of Melissa Holding, Katherine Lucas and Jackie Singer, each of them a singer, instrumentalist, composer and arranger. Along with three beautifully matched voices, they play between them clarinet, whistles, fiddle, mandola, accordion, percussion, shamisen (Japanese banjo) and koto (Japanese harp). With such a rich palette of sounds, textures and dynamics at their disposal, Kismet can take you from a wild Romanian dance to a haunting Celtic lullaby, via a French cafe or a Japanese monastery. "Kismet transport us to a wonderland of music and fun - we want to dance and sing with those traveling gypsies!" History They have also collaborated with storytellers, poets and dancers and provided music for theatre pieces. In 2005 Kismet were commissioned by the University of Oxford Botanic Gardens to create and perform new work for five festivals with themes relating to plants and people, as part of an Arts Council funded residency. Some of this material is available on their CD Growing.
"Kismet are a fantastically diverse and talented group. They have the ability to engage an audience of any age, as well as a knack of encouraging even the most inexperienced or self-conscious to join in, have a go and enjoy themselves! Their performances are always thoughtfully researched and beautifully delivered." Emma Williams, Education Officer University of Oxford Botanic Garden In
2009 Kismet were commissioned by the Kingsley family to make a
CD of circle dance tunes in memory of Devora Kingsley, who was
a circle dance teacher and choreographer. The
Dance Goes On is the resulting CD, which features 11 dance
tunes from Eastern Europe in original arrangements, plus Kismet's
own tribute. |
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Melissa started her musical life playing the piano aged 5 and later studied at the Royal College of Music and City University in London. Having been exposed to Japanese music, she was inspired to learn the koto (13-stringed Japanese harp) and in 1993 was awarded a scholarship from the Japanese government to study in Kyoto Japan. During seven years studying, performing and teaching in Kyoto Melissa also founded East Whistle, a 4-piece band with whom she played piano accordion, specialising in Celtic and Eastern European folk music. They toured in Japan, Poland and the US giving concerts and playing for contra dances ending up at the Black Mountain Folk Festival, North Carolina. Their CD is named Locust in the Beehive. More recently Melissa has composed, arranged and performed for the National Theatre and is currently a member of the contemporary music ensemble Okeanos, who commission works from both young and established composers. They have performed at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, the Spitalfields Festival and the BMIC Cutting Edge series of concerts at the Warehouse in London. Okeanos was recently featured on BBC Radio 3's Hear and Now program. Melissa
lives in Oxford with her husband and two children. |
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Coming from a classical music background, Kath's music making has been influenced by her travels around the world and her discovery of natural voice work and improvisation. For the past nine years she has taught singing to community, school, theatre and business groups predominantly in and around Oxfordshire. The workshops Kath leads in Charlbury where she lives centre around the 'Wheel of the Year' bringing not only seasonal music to the community but an opportunity to mark the passage of the year with related activities, food and ritual. She also runs a lively community choir and has organised many performances for both the choir and visiting musicians. Much of her time is now spent researching, writing and arranging music, which is a constant source of delight! Kath has been part of the vocal ensembles Amariah and Frabjous Day. Now with Kismet, she is often the bringer of new music, both her own compositions and gems found through her love of searching out the unusual. She has one lovely teenage daughter. |
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Jackie has played the violin from a young age, and made the break from classical to folk music as a founder member of the medieval folk band Jabberwocky, who performed at festivals, castles and banquets during the 1990s. Simultaneously, she formed Tiger Moon as a vehicle for her singer-songwriting and released her first solo CD (She is Gold) in 2003. In Kismet Jackie brings her instrumental, singing and song-writing skills together. From time to time she also draws on her experience as a storyteller to throw a tale into the pot of words and music that Kismet cooks up. Jackie also lives in East Oxford, with her husband and two young daughters. |
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